Baffle assembly for pole

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The invention relates to baffles for a pole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002Baffles may be utilized on a pole to prevent animals such as squirrels from climbing the pole to gain access to a birdfeeder. There are many prior art birdfeeders that include baffles in their design. However, the known baffles are typically designed for mounting in a specific manner, such as on a pole of specified diameter.

0003It is therefore desirable to have a baffle that may be utilized on poles of various diameters and that is easily mounted to a pole by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004In one aspect, there is disclosed a baffle assembly for a pole that includes a clamping structure adapted to be positioned about a pole. The clamping structure includes a plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks removably joined along the longitudinal axis. The plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks extends from a proximal end to a distal end defining a length of the clamping structure. A mounting strap includes a first end attached to the proximal end of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks. The mounting strap extends to a second end and includes a fastener formed thereon. Bell housing includes opposing open ends. The bell housing is positioned about the pole and about the clamping structure wherein the bell housing is supported by the mounting hooks. The length of the clamping structure is adjusted by removal of selected mounting hooks of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks from the distal end.

0005In another aspect, there is disclosed a baffle assembly for a pole that includes a clamping structure adapted to be positioned about a pole. The clamping structure includes a plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks. The mounting hooks include a web material formed along the longitudinal axis between adjacent mounting hooks of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks removably joining the adjacent mounting hooks along the longitudinal axis. The plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks extend from a proximal end to a distal end defining a length of the clamping structure. A mounting strap includes a first end attached to the proximal end of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks. The mounting strap extends to a second end and includes a fastener formed thereon. Bell housing includes opposing open ends. The bell housing is positioned about the pole and about the clamping structure wherein the bell housing is supported by the mounting hooks. The length of the clamping structure is adjusted by removal of selected mounting hooks of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks from the distal end.

0006In a further aspect, there is disclosed a baffle assembly for a pole that includes a clamping structure adapted to be positioned about a pole. The clamping structure includes a plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks removably joined along the longitudinal axis. Each of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks includes a shank extending to a hooked body which includes a mounting surface extending to an angled face. The plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks extends from a proximal end to a distal end defining a length of the clamping structure. A mounting strap includes a first end attached to the proximal end of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks. The mounting strap extends to a second end and includes a fastener formed thereon. Bell housing includes opposing open ends. The bell housing is positioned about the pole and about the clamping structure wherein the bell housing is supported by the mounting hooks. The length of the clamping structure is adjusted by removal of selected mounting hooks of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks from the distal end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0007<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a clamping structure;

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a front view of a clamping structure;

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an end view of a clamping structure;

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an end view of a clamping structure;

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a top view of a clamping structure;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an exploded perspective view of a clamping structure, pole and bell housing;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an exploded perspective view of a clamping structure, pole and bell housing;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a perspective view of a clamping structure, pole and bell housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0015Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-8</figref>, there is shown a baffle assembly <b>20</b> for a pole <b>22</b>. The baffle assembly <b>20</b> includes a clamping structure <b>24</b> adapted to be positioned about the pole <b>22</b>. The clamping structure <b>24</b> includes a plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> removably joined along the longitudinal axis <b>28</b>. In one aspect, a web material <b>30</b> is formed along the longitudinal axis <b>28</b> between adjacent mounting hooks <b>26</b> of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> joining the adjacent mounting hooks <b>26</b>. The plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> extend from a proximal end <b>32</b> to a distal end <b>34</b> defining a length <b>36</b> of the clamping structure <b>24</b>. The length <b>36</b> of the clamping structure may be adjusted by removal of selected mounting hooks of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> from the distal end <b>34</b>, as will be discussed in more detail below. The plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> may be formed of rubber material.

0016Each of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> include a shank <b>38</b> extending to a hooked body <b>40</b>. The hooked body <b>40</b> includes a mounting surface <b>42</b> extending to an angled face <b>44</b>.

0017A mounting strap <b>46</b> includes a first end <b>48</b> attached to the proximal end <b>32</b> of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b>. In one aspect, the mounting hook <b>26</b> at the proximal end <b>32</b> includes an attachment slot <b>50</b> formed therein for attaching the first end <b>48</b> of the mounting strap <b>46</b>. The mounting strap <b>46</b> extends to a second end <b>52</b> that includes a fastener <b>54</b> formed thereon. In one aspect, the fastener <b>54</b> is a hook and loop fastener that removably attaches to the mounting strap <b>46</b>.

0018A bell housing <b>56</b> includes opposing open ends <b>58</b>, <b>60</b>. The open end of the bell housing proximate the clamping structure has an opening size less than a length of the hooked body. The bell housing <b>56</b> is positioned about the pole <b>22</b> and about the clamping structure <b>24</b> such that the bell housing <b>56</b> is supported by the mounting hooks <b>26</b>. In one aspect, the bell housing <b>56</b> includes a two-piece housing including first and second halves <b>62</b> that may be joined together about the pole <b>22</b>. In one aspect, the first and second halves <b>62</b> may include bayonet pins and slots (not shown) formed on the edges to align the first and second halves <b>62</b> when assembled. The bell housing <b>56</b> may be formed of a rigid plastic material such as polypropylene. A metal ring <b>63</b> may be attached to the end <b>60</b> of the bell housing <b>56</b> that is spaced from the hooked body <b>40</b> of the clamping structure <b>24</b>. The metal ring <b>63</b> may prevent damage to the bell housing <b>56</b> by chewing from an animal.

0019The bell housing <b>56</b> includes separated inner and outer surfaces <b>64</b>, <b>66</b>. The outer surface <b>66</b> includes a groove <b>68</b> formed therein about a circumference of the bell housing <b>56</b>. A slot <b>70</b> is formed in the groove <b>68</b>. A snap ring <b>72</b> is disposed in the groove <b>68</b> and includes a first attachment end <b>74</b> engaging one end of the slot <b>70</b> and a second attachment end <b>76</b> engaging an opposing end of the slot <b>70</b>. The snap ring <b>72</b> compresses the first and second halves <b>62</b> together.

0020In use, a user may wrap the clamping structure <b>24</b> about the pole <b>22</b> at a desired height along the pole <b>22</b>. The clamping structure <b>24</b> is wrapped about the pole <b>22</b> such that the shanks <b>38</b> of the laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> abut the pole <b>22</b> with the hooked body <b>40</b> facing away from the pole <b>22</b>, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6-7</figref>. The clamping structure <b>24</b> may be used with various diameter poles. The user may adjust the length of the clamping structure <b>24</b> by removal of selected mounting hooks <b>26</b> of the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b> from the distal end <b>34</b>. In this manner, the mounting hooks <b>26</b> will be spaced about the circumference of various diameter poles <b>22</b>. In one aspect, the user may separate the selected mounting hooks <b>26</b> along the web <b>30</b> of material between adjacent mounting hooks <b>26</b>.

0021After the clamping structure <b>24</b> is wrapped about the pole <b>22</b> with the desired length, the mounting strap <b>46</b> is wrapped about the plurality of laterally spaced mounting hooks <b>26</b>. The mounting strap <b>46</b> is secured to itself using the fastener <b>54</b> as described above. The mounting hooks <b>26</b> are now secured to the pole <b>22</b> at a desired height.

0022Next, the bell housing <b>56</b> including first and second halves <b>62</b> are joined together about the pole <b>22</b>, such that the inner surface <b>64</b> of the bell housing <b>56</b> sits on the mounting hooks <b>26</b>. The snap ring <b>72</b> is positioned in the groove <b>68</b> such that the first attachment end <b>74</b> engages one end of the slot <b>70</b> and a second attachment end <b>76</b> engages an opposing end of the slot <b>70</b>. The snap ring <b>72</b> compresses the first and second halves <b>62</b> together as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.

0023The contact of the mounting hooks <b>26</b> is variable with the inner surface <b>64</b> of the bell housing <b>56</b> due to the structure of the hooked body <b>40</b> including a mounting surface <b>42</b> extending to an angled face <b>44</b>. The angled face <b>44</b> allows the bell housing <b>56</b> to wobble when an animal attempts to climb on the baffle assembly <b>20</b>.